Lifeboat securing and releasing mechanism



- G. W..P. OVERMAN FEBOAT SECURING AND RELEASING MECHANISM Filed Nov. 11, 1926 -:s spews-sheet l a, a l? we 1,631,053 y 1927' w. P. OVERMAN LIFEBOAT SECURING AND RELEAS ING MECHANISM FiledNov. 11, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I 7-?- g. s. 7.7;- g. 5.

z a a JU 4 i l 7 L 6 W11 Orermm.

ti at r as at GEORGE W. P. OVERMAN, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

' LIFEBOAT SECURING AND BELEASING MECHANISM.

' Application filed adama- 11, 1926. Serial No. 147,773,

This invention relates to a life boat securing and releasing mechanism embodying choc-ks from which the life boat may be swung laterally or in an outward direction, means holding the his boat against lateral displacement from the checks, and means holding the life boat against vertical d1splacement from thechocks.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a mechanism of the character set forth wherein the means for holding the life boat against'lateral displacement from the chocks shall embody pivoted jaws having vertical and horizontal keel contacting members of which the latter constitute rests for the keel and are movable with and with respect to the-jawsduring the movement of the jaws into life boat retaining or releasing position so as to render it impossible for the keel to interfere with the free movement of the jaws into either of and especially the last named oi said positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character set forth which shall include means for moving the jaws into lifeboat retaining or releasing position and which shall be directly con nected to the movable members of the jaws so as to actuate them in a manner to render it impossible. for the keel to interfere with the treemovcment of thevjaws into, either of its positions.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character stated wherein the n'ica-ns for holding the life boat against vertical displacement from the chocks shall embody hooks connected to the life boat, chains connected to the deck of the vessel, catches releasably connecting the chains to the hooks and adapted to be re, strained in order to maintain the connection,

and catch restraining means. I

A still i'urther object of the invention is to provide a mechanism of the character set forth which shall embody means associated with the jaw actuating means and-adapted to secure the catch restraining means to a fixed part of the vessel while the jaws are in life boat retaining position and adapted to release the restraining means during the movement of the jaws into life boat releasing position.

{the invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: v Figure 1 is an elevati'onal view illustratingthe application of the lifeboat securing and releasing mechanism,

Figure 2 is a sectional vertical View taken on the plane indicated by the line 2+2 of Figure 1, V j

V Figure 3 is a, detail top'plan view illus trating the locking means for the catch restraining means, i

Figure l is a sectional View taken on the vertical plane indicated by the line 44 oi Figure 3, v

Figure 5 is a detail elevational view of one of the jaws in boat retaining position,

Figure 6 is a view in side elevation of the when the catch restraining means is 1 2-" leased, I Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 illustrating the catch in locked engagement with the hooks, and 1 Figure 12 is a detail sectional view taken on the vertical. plane indicated by the line l212 of Figure 9.

Referring in detail to the drawings, in

the several views of which like reference characters denote likexzparts, 1 designates the deck of a vessel, 2 a life boat which is supported from davits 2 by tackles 3, and at Chocks upon which the life boat rests; The upper edges 5 of the chocks 4 conform to the curvature of the inboard underside of the 7 life boat. .The checks 4 are provided at their outboard ends with vertical edges 6 and below the same with outwardly projecting extensions 7 The upper edges 8 of the ex tensions 7 incline downwardly and outwardly, and secured to said edges thereof are straps 9. Jaws 10, which are normally supported in a vertical position, function to retain the lifeboat 2 on the chocks 4 against lateralor outboarddisplaceme'nt. The jaws 10 are of U-form in cross or horizontal section, and'are provided at theirflateral sides with downwardly extending lugs 10 which are pivoted as at 11' to the straps 9. The jaws 10 are provided at their upper ends.

with vertical and horizontal members 12 and 13, respectively, which in conjunction with theedges 6 of the chocks 4 provide a channel for the reception of the keel 2 'of bottom of'the keel 2. that the jaws 1O canbe freely moved into wardly of and slightly below the axis of ro tation of the jaws 10. Links 18 are lined to the jaw members 13 and pivoted as at 19 to the upper ends of the cranks 17. The con nection'betweenthe jaws 10 and shaft 15 is such as to adapt the shaft to be used for lowering the jaws into their lifeboat releasing position shown in Figures T and 8, and for raising them into their life boat retaining position, shown in Figures 2, and 6. During the movement of the jaws into'their life boat releasing and retaining positions, the members 13 move with the jaws with respect thereto, with the result that during the first phase of their down warcl movement and during the final phase of their upward movement they travel in a plane substantially at right angles to the It will thus be seen either of their positions and that they cannot be locked by the keel 2 against movement into life boat releasing position. The

shaft is also adapted to be used for the purpose of locking the jaws 10 in their life boat retaining position, and to attainthis end there is employed amember 20 which is carried by the life boat 2 and removably engaged with the handle 16.

The life boat 2 is held against vertical displacement from the chocks 4 by chains 21 which are secured at their lower ends to rings 21 fastened in any suitable manner to the deckl. The upper ends of the chains 21 are detachably connected to books 22 which are engaged with the gunwales of the life boat'2 and have vertically depending v shanks 22?;

The hook shanks 22 are provided with eyes 23 and below the same with slots 24. The chains 21 are secured to the hooks 22 by catches25 of which each comprises relatively long and shortmembers 26 and 27 respectively, the member .26 being pivoted at one end as at 28 to the member '27 at a point intermediate the ends of the ends of the catch member 27 are provided with hooks 31. Cle'vises 32 are pivoted as at 33 to the catch members 26, and the upper. ends of the chains 21 are adjustably connected to the clevises by bolts 34. The catch members 26 and 27 are prevented from having any relative pivotal movement, and are. thus held against casual disengagement from the hooks 22 by means of chains 35 which are engaged at their upper ends with the hooks 31 of "the catch members 27. i The lower ends of the chains 35v are secured to rings 36 which are normally retained in engagement with the upwardly extending lugs 37 of plates 38 by lock blocks 39 secured to the shaft 15. The plates 38'are secured to the deck 1 below the shaft 15, and eachplate is provided adjacent its ends with a pair of the lugs 37. The inner or contiguous edges of the lugs 37 incline upwardly and out- 'wardly so as to permit the rings 36 when released to move freely out of engagement with the lugs. The lock blocks 39 extend downwardly from the shaft 15 and contact with rings 36 in a manner to hold them in engagement with the lugs 37. The lock blocks 39 are in ring retaining position when the jaws 1O are-inlife'boat retaining position, and in ring releasing position when the jaws are in life boat releasing position. 7 The lock blocks 39 are of sectional formationto pern'iit'them to be readily applied to the shaft 15 after it has been passed through. the checks 4, and the sections thereof are secured together 1 by bolts 40, and by tongues 41 carried by certain of the sections andfih ting in recesses 42 in the others.

From'the foregoing, taken in-connection v with the accompanying drawings, it will be apparent that the life boat may be easily and quickly released from the checks 4, and that to release the life boat it is only necessary to free and turn the shaft15. The turning of the shaft 15*will swing the jaws 10 and lock blocks 39 into life boat and ring releasing position. As the chains 35 are not now under restraint, the weight of the chains 21 will cause the catch members 26 and 27 to swing on their pivots 28, with the result that they will be automatically disengaged from the hooks 22 and the life boat freed from all deck securing.

It should be understood that the; drawings are merely illustrative and do not pretend to give exact proportions. Furthermore, the said drawings'are illustrative of a preferred construction, it being my expectation that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

What is claimed is 1. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism, including chocks from which the boat may be swung in an outboard direction, pivoted elements adapted to contact with the outboard side of the keel of the boat to hold the latter against outboard displacement from the chocks, members movably connected to the elements and constituting rests for the keel, and means for holding the elements in boat retaining position and for moving them into boat releasing position and at the same time moving the members with respect to the elements.

2. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism, including chocksfrom which the boat may be swung in an outboard direction, pivoted jaws having vertically disposed keel contacting members, horizontally disposed keel contacting members pivoted to the jaws, and locking and actuating means for the jaws connected to the pivoted members.

3. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism,including cocks from which the boat may be swung in an outboard direction, pivoted jaws provided with vertically disposed keel contacting members, horizontally disposed keel contacting members pivoted to the jaws, a shaft provided with cranks, members connectedto the pivoted members and cranks, and means for securing the shaft against casual movement.

4:. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism, including chocks from which the boat may be swung in an outboard directron, pivoted jaws having vertically disposed keel contacting members, horizontally disposed keel contacting members pivoted to the jaws above the pivots of the latter, a shaft spaced inwardly from and inv substantial alinement with the pivots of the jaws, cranks secured to the shaft, arms connected to the pivoted members andcranks, and means for securing the shaft against casual movement.

5. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism including members secured to the boat, members secured in the deck of the vessel, catches releasably connecting the members and adapted to be restrained to maintain the connection, restraining members for the catches, and locking means for the restraining members.

6. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism including members secured to the boat, members secured to the deck, ofthe vessel, catches releasably connecting the members and adapted to" be restrained. to maintain the connection, restraining members for the catches provided'with rings, members with which the rings are engaged, and means normally holding the rings in engagement with the last named. members.

7.1K life boat securing and releasing mechanism including members secured to the boat, members'secured to the deck of the vessel, catches releasably connecting the members and adapted to be restrained to maintain the connection, restraining members for the catches and provided with rings. plates providedwith lugs with which the rings are engaged, a shaft, locking blocks carried by the shaft and contacting with the rings, and means securing the shaft against casual rotation.

8. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism including members secured to the boat, members secured to the deck of the vessel, catches releasably connecting the members and adapted to be restrained to maintain the connection, restraining members for the catches, and locking means for the restraining members, each catch embodying pivotally connected members removably engaged with the boat -carry-' ing members, the members secured to the deck being engaged with certain of the members of the catches and the restrainingmembers being engaged with the other members of the catches.

9. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism including hooks connected to the boat and provided with eyes and slots, catches embodying pivotally connected members engaged with the hooks through the medium of the eyes and slots, members secured to certain of the catchmembers and to the deck of the vessel, and catch restraining means connected tothe' other members of the catches.

10. A life boat securingand releasing mechanism including hooks connected to the boat, catches releasably connected to the hooks and. adapted to be restrained to maintain the connection, members secured to the catches and to the deck of the vessel, and catch restraining means.

11. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism including hooksconnected with the .boat, pivotally connected members releasably engaged with each hook, an element secured to one of the members and to the deck of the vessel, anda member secured to the other member andto the deck of the vessel and adapted to maintain the members in engagement with the hooks.

12. A life boat securing and releasing mechanism including chocks from which the boat maybe swung in an outboarddirection,

keel of the boat to, hold the boat against outwarddisplacement from the cheeks, hooks engaged with the boat,-1nembers secured to the deck of thevessel, catches releasably c0n- 5 necting. the members to the hooks and adapted to be restrained to maintain the connection, and means adapted to support the jaws in boat retaining position and to restrain the catches, said means being adapted to be operated to Simultaneously move the jaws 10 into boat releasing position and to release the catches v V In testimony WhereofI afiix my signature.

GEORGE P. OVERMAN. 

